NRA Gun of the Week: Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield EZ Pistol

American Rifleman Staff

posted on January 4, 2020

Support NRA American Rifleman DONATE

** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Building upon an award-winning semi-automatic pistol design, Smith & Wesson upped the ante with its M&P Shield EZ line by including a 9 mm-chambered model dubbed the M&P9 Shield EZ. Designed for everyday carry and personal protection, the EZ-to-use recoil-operated semi-automatic features 8+1 capacity, a load-assist tab for quick handling and easy loading. Adjustable white-dot sights adorn the Armornite-finished stainless steel slide for quick target acquisition while maintaining a snag-free design for reliable on-body carry. To learn more about the Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield EZ, watch this NRA Gun of the Week video hosted by American Rifleman’s Christopher Olsen.

Specifications:
Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson
Chambering: 9 mm Luger
Action Type: recoil-operated, semi-automatic center-fire pistol
Slide: black Amornite-finished steel
Frame: black polymer
Magazine: eight-round detachable box
Sights: steel square notch rear, post front; drift-adjustable, three-dot
Trigger: single-action; 5-lb., 13-oz. pull
Width: 1.07” (1.45” with safety)
Weight: 18.5 ozs.
MSRP: $479

Additional Reading:
Smith & Wesson's Sub-Compact Shield
Tested: Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Compact Pistol
Tested: Smith & Wesson Model 19 Classic Revolver
A Look Back at the Smith & Wesson Model 24
Tested: Smith & Wesson M&P45 Shield
Tested: The S&W M&P380 Shield EZ Pistol

Extras:
ARTV—Review: Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0

Video—ARTV Review: Smith & Wesson M&P 45 Shield

I Have This Old Gun: Smith & Wesson Model 76 Submachine Gun

American Rifleman TV Preview: Over There! Part 6; Smith & Wesson M&P380 Shield EZ

NRA Gun of the Week: Smith & Wesson Performance Center 460XVR

NRA Gun of the Week: Smith & Wesson SW22 Victory Pistol

Latest

The PROOF Research PXT: A New Approach to Barrel Rifling

PROOF Research has introduced PROOF eXponential Twist (PXT)—an advancement in rifling that improves durability, accuracy and shootability—to the commercial market.

News, Gear

Review: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker

Back when American Rifleman reviewed Springfield's Model 2020 Waypoint, we noted that we “...couldn’t help but wonder if a tactical-version Model 2020 rifle might be a logical future offshoot of the Waypoint hunting rifle." With the Model 2020 Heatseeker, that version is finally here.

Reviews, News

Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker 1

Marlin Goes Mad: The Marlin Mad Pig Customs Model 1894

Marlin’s latest Model 1894 lever-action rifle, a collaboration with Mad Pig Customs that is a far cry from traditional, delivers “modern, factory‑installed features previously found only on custom builds.”

News, Guns

The Jewish Community Is Embracing Our 2A Freedom

In this episode of the NRA’s The Armed Citizen Podcast, we interview Gayle Pearlstein, COO and co-founder of Lox & Loaded, a Jewish-owned and -operated gun club that now—after being launched only a year ago—has 50 chapters around the United States.

News, Armed Citizen

I Have This Old Gun: The Southerner Derringer

People carrying small firearms for personal protection is not a new concept, and in the middle of the 19th century, many pocket pistols were designed with self-defense in mind. One such gun, the Brown Manufacturing Southerner Derringer, was among the earliest cartridge-firing self-defense guns.

News, ARTV

Affordable & Feature-Rich: The Springfield Armory Echelon Alpha 4.0C

Springfield Armory entered the world of modular, striker-fired handguns in 2023 with its Echelon line of pistols, and for 2026, Springfield is introducing an entry-level Echelon model with the Alpha 4.0C.

News, Guns